After some internal debate with myself, I finally decided to get the Dobinson rear bumper. I have been using my 80 hard during guiding and 4WD classes, and the rear tire needed to come up from under the truck, it was a limiting factor. But enough of that, the Dobinson bumper is outstanding. Truly outstanding piece of gear and I highly recommend it.
I will be reviewing it over the next few treads, starting with the beginning. Shoutout to JD at MidState Toyota in Asheboro, NC. I ordered it Thursday 10/18 ,as they are a Dobinson dealer, and it came in Monday 10/22! Amazing. I drove up to pick it up and it all fits inside an 80, it was extremely well packed and protected on a wooden pallet before I stuffed it in here.
Got it home and begin to undo the packaging, sort it all out in the garage floor. The instructions are simple, and assembly was easy with a few twists I will describe. The only 2 issues I had was a bracket tab that didn't seem to fit, and no installation page for swing outs. In a matter of minutes, CrikeyMike email me the instructions and told me what to do with the tab. This was impressive response time. I found a Youtube video that has similar bumper swing out install, so would have been fine.
Before you start, I recommend an M8X1.25, M10X1.25, M12x1.25, tap to make sure the threads are clean on the frame. Then tap all the holes on the brackets to remove paint residue and clean them up. One quick correction on the part list, there is a bolt listed as M12X1.5. It is not 1.5, they are all 1.25.
Instruction page for bumper, one page and it was enough. Swing out was another page. There are 2 pages of part quantity and identification.
One of the first things I noticed was how light the bumper was. It feels strong, fit and finish are first rate, the hardware is all there, the lights and wires are well marked and easy to get to. As good as it felt handling it, it was easy by one person due to the lightness. After removing the brackets and plastic parts of the OEM bumper, the Dobinson goes right over the OEM bumper and frame and attaches to the side rails with brackets.
This bracket goes on the side rails, and there is a spade shaped part that stuck out and wouldn't clear the body mount. CrikeyMike told me to bend it (easy to do with pliers or bench vice) as that tab is used to align the holes for the bracket. Even though that part is not on the instructions, that is all you have to do.
Bent tab used to align bolt holes, hardware went in very easily that way.
Make sure all the bolts are in but not tight as you will need to position the bumper and may need adjustment. There are 2 side M8 bolts that hold each bracket in place, those need to be tight as the bumper will cover them and you will not have access to them.
Once the side rail tabs are in place you may want to install the shiny plate on top of the bumper. I opted to leave it out, and decide if I want to add it later on. But I do like how it looks without it.
As you slide the bumper in place, which amazingly is easy to do by one person, it will be obvious how it goes, as the 4 center bumper holes will align with the OEM bumper. The bolts on the kit where too short for my truck so I got 10mm longer bolts to make sure I had enough thread engagement.
The 4 bolts, 8.8 grade marking easy to see, that will be on the center of the bumper:
I will be reviewing it over the next few treads, starting with the beginning. Shoutout to JD at MidState Toyota in Asheboro, NC. I ordered it Thursday 10/18 ,as they are a Dobinson dealer, and it came in Monday 10/22! Amazing. I drove up to pick it up and it all fits inside an 80, it was extremely well packed and protected on a wooden pallet before I stuffed it in here.
Got it home and begin to undo the packaging, sort it all out in the garage floor. The instructions are simple, and assembly was easy with a few twists I will describe. The only 2 issues I had was a bracket tab that didn't seem to fit, and no installation page for swing outs. In a matter of minutes, CrikeyMike email me the instructions and told me what to do with the tab. This was impressive response time. I found a Youtube video that has similar bumper swing out install, so would have been fine.
Before you start, I recommend an M8X1.25, M10X1.25, M12x1.25, tap to make sure the threads are clean on the frame. Then tap all the holes on the brackets to remove paint residue and clean them up. One quick correction on the part list, there is a bolt listed as M12X1.5. It is not 1.5, they are all 1.25.
Instruction page for bumper, one page and it was enough. Swing out was another page. There are 2 pages of part quantity and identification.
One of the first things I noticed was how light the bumper was. It feels strong, fit and finish are first rate, the hardware is all there, the lights and wires are well marked and easy to get to. As good as it felt handling it, it was easy by one person due to the lightness. After removing the brackets and plastic parts of the OEM bumper, the Dobinson goes right over the OEM bumper and frame and attaches to the side rails with brackets.
This bracket goes on the side rails, and there is a spade shaped part that stuck out and wouldn't clear the body mount. CrikeyMike told me to bend it (easy to do with pliers or bench vice) as that tab is used to align the holes for the bracket. Even though that part is not on the instructions, that is all you have to do.
Bent tab used to align bolt holes, hardware went in very easily that way.
Make sure all the bolts are in but not tight as you will need to position the bumper and may need adjustment. There are 2 side M8 bolts that hold each bracket in place, those need to be tight as the bumper will cover them and you will not have access to them.
Once the side rail tabs are in place you may want to install the shiny plate on top of the bumper. I opted to leave it out, and decide if I want to add it later on. But I do like how it looks without it.
As you slide the bumper in place, which amazingly is easy to do by one person, it will be obvious how it goes, as the 4 center bumper holes will align with the OEM bumper. The bolts on the kit where too short for my truck so I got 10mm longer bolts to make sure I had enough thread engagement.
The 4 bolts, 8.8 grade marking easy to see, that will be on the center of the bumper:
